Primary battery.



G'. S. ENGLE.

PRIMARY BATTERY.

AFPLIOATION FILED A1=11.10, 1909.

Patented Jan. 7, 1913.

a 1 d W5 \v\\ if; E l v\|l| J 0o 1 H- W 2 u .m .1 N www .p 1 1 7 ing an integral part of the main vessel or UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE S. ENGLE, F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

PRIMARY BATTERY.

A Patented Jaa. 7,1913. 190e. serial No. 489,141.

, To all whom, it may concern:

vit

.of the alkaline electrolyte so as to Be it known that I, yGuiones S. ENGLE, a citizen of the United States, residing atv Edgewood, Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented new and usefulv Improvements in Primary Batteries, of which the following is a specification. v l

This invention relates to primary batteries of that type wherein the wall of the containing vessel or .receptacle is formed from an electrical generating material or composition which is chemically attacked by the electrolyte which inthe present in'- stance is preferably of an alkaline nature,-

' within 'minimized proportions of the battol tery cell organization and thus render a .primary battery of this character of greater commercial value particularly as a motive generating means. l f -v The invention consists in the-construction and varrangement of. parts which will be more fully hereinafter explained in various preferred forms, but it will be understood that the invention is not limited to ,any precise details of construction, the essential feature being .to utilize two or more distinct compartments which are'preferably formed by partition means v,of an imperfo= rategcharacter rigidly connected to or form- -receptacle and having an alkaline electrolytetherein and battery `elements which are connected up at least exteriorlyfof the completecell by a conducting means. In .the drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse -vertical lsection through a cell having two compartments and embodying the features of the invention.' Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of thel cell as shown by Fig. 1. Fig.' 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing. acell with threecompartments.vr Fig. 4 is a top .plan view of a cell showing a plurality of compartments y eater in number `than shown` by Fig. V3. ig. 5 is a side elevation of two cells illustrating the manner of assembling all the cells for practical service'.

The numeral 5 .designates a casing orreceptacle carrying zinc in the body thereof which is exposed at the inner ort-ion to the action `of the electrolyte hereinafter specified, the said receptacle having `minimized dimensions thoughA capable of enlargement to adapt it for different applications.` In the upper open top portion of the casing or receptacle 5 a cover 6 of suitable insulating material is fit-ted and projects-at its perimeter far enough above the upper edge of the receptacle to prevent contact with the latter by superimposed receptacles of a similar character and to effectively carry out its insulating functions. The receptacle 5 has trally through the latter to form two conv partments 9, the said partition 8 being fixed y' to or preferablyintegrally formed with the receptacle and of less vertical extent than the side and end walls of said receptacle to provide for the introduction of battery elements beneath the cover` 6, as will be presently explained. e

In the form of the device shown by Fig. 3 a third compartment 9 is provided, there being two partit-ions 8 used in this instance.

In the form of' the cell` shown by Fig. 4 a greaterl number of compartments 9 is illustrated and produced by intersecting Vpartitions 10 and 11. Within the compartments,

whatever-'their number may be, a suitable alkaline electrolyte 12' is disposed to coact vwith negative elements or poles of the cell.

The receptacle 5 andthe several partitions hereinbefore explalned' constitute the positive element 'or pole ofthe cell and the.

negative element or pole consists of carbon lor carbonaceous fingers, plates or members 13 individually projecting into the 'com partments and connected or bridged by members 14 of similar material and' located, when the negative element as a whole is applied, above and out fof contact with the upper edges of the partitions or each partition, and extending upwardly through the carbon or carbonaceous element are bolts 15 lwhich have their heads l'countersunk in the lower portions of the'carbon elements as at 17 and covered by a suitable insulating .rio

medium I8. These bolts serve as conductors 'and project through thecover 6 where theyV lin any suitable manner and will .be preferably located as shown, though it is obvious that they may be raised or Alowered in accordance Awith the proportions and dimensions of the cell. The electrolyte does not overflow the upper terminal edges of the compartments or partitions forming the compartments, the electrolyte always re- .maining in a cold state in contradistinction to thermo-cells where different degrees of heat are-used to accelerate or increase the amperage.

The top portion of the inner surface of the receptacle 5 'is provided with means in the form of a covering 20 to prevent the powder form by exposure to the atmosphere' electrolyte from creeping u p to the joint between the cover 6 and the upper portion or rim .of the receptacle 5 and carrying the alkaline zincate through the joint and whichv zincate would immediately be resolved into with serious detriment to the cleanliness of the cell. This rim covering 20. also obstructs the loss of the alkaline zincat from the electrolyte and is highly beneficial in View of the fact that a certain percentage of the alkalinezincate must be maintained in solution in the electrolyte.; The coverin 2O in the-y present instance is composed o land cement, sand and cotton liber, two parts of the cement and one of sand being used and enough .cotton fiber employed to rm a practical binder. This covering is applied while the composition isf in a plastic state and has such depth 'and thickness as to renderit practical in preventing creeping of the alkaline zincato through the joint between the cover and the receptacle, as hereinbefore explained.

In assembling the battery cells v'for practical service a copper plate 21 is placedover and in Contact with the bolt extremities pro-V jecting through the insulating cover 6, and

on this copper plate the bottom portion of another cell is disposed soas to be in direct contact with the said plate, this assemblage ofthe cells being carried out with` relation toall the cells used in a complete battery of a given number of cells; The outer surface of thereceptacle 5 is covered l'with a suitable insulating composition or material-as @L22 to vconserve the energy of each; cell. The

Portbottoms of the cells, however, are left without this insulating covering so as to estabylish a reliable contact with the copper conducting plate 211placed between'each pair of cells. By introducing copper conducting plates between the cells as explained a connection of the cells in series is obtained, and any suit-able means may be employed for connecting the cells in parallel.

As explained in my-copending application Serial Number 465,938, the alkaline electrolyte acts on the Wall and partition or partitions of the cell and chemically cooperates with the rinc and also the carbon element or elements and the vzinc combines with the alkali to form an alkaline zincate which lis maintained in solution and prevented from depositing on the negative or carbon element to any material'extent with the advantage that a more perfect conducting fluid is formed andthe internal resistance ofthe cell is reduced to a minimum and the. local action on the zinc of the receptacle is also very materially reduced.

It will be Aunderstood that the .electrolyte may be introduced into receptacle 5 through a filling tube or nipple QB'in the cover. 6, and after the electrolyte has been` thus supplied to the cell the tube or nipple 23 is closed by inserting therein a suitable plug or cork. No air from the exterior of the cell is permitted to enter the latter and under excessive pressurev a. portion of the gas may escape through the joint between the said filling tube or nipple vand. the casing or cover. Otherwise the cell is tightly closed and'sealed, except a small pin-hole 24 for hydrogen to escape.

It is proposed in some instances to 1nt-roduce in the electrolyte certain quantities' of alkaline Zincate prior to filling or supplying the receptacle 5 with-thel electrolyte in order to prevent` a forceful' attack on'the zinc of the receptacle by the electrolyte in the iirst instance. This pre,- liminary step will not in the least` aiifect the chemical action of the Velectrolyt'e,'but ou the contraryy has the advantage of materially lessening the internal resistance. The presenceof alkaline zincate in the: electrolyte has the effect of prolongingtlie life or activity of the battery from ak standpoint of generation, and practice has demonstrated that the presence of alkalinezincate inthe electro'- lyte is one of the most essential features of the invention. A

`What is claimed is:

1. A battery cell consisting of a receptacle having partition meansintegral therewith to orm'cornpartments therein, the partition means being of lessvertical height than the receptacle and the compartments having inner bottom surfaces of concave `form, the body 'ef the receptacle. and partition meansv 'carrymg zinc and unitedly constituting one pole, a carbon pole comprising aplurality of separated members suspended in the compartments and 'having horizontal connecting means located above the upper edge ofthe partition, the connecting means being out of contact with the upper edge of the partition and also composed of carbon, an insulating cover to which the said carbon pole members are attached, and a cold alkaline electrolyte within the compartments and held in separated quantities by the partitions.

2. A. battery cell consisting of a receptacle' having partition means integrally formed therewith to form compartments therein, the partition means being of less vertical height than the receptacle, the body of the receptacle and the partition means carrying zinc and unitedly constituting one pole, the bot? toms of the compartments having a concave contour and gradually merging into -the sides-and ends of the receptacle andthe partitions, acarbon pole comprising a plurality carbon located above the upper edges of the `of members suspended in the compartments and having horizontal connecting means of 25 partitions and out of contact with' said latter edges, an insulating cover to which the said carbon members are attached, an outer insulating material enveloping the opposite extremities and sides of the body of the receptacle and leaving the bottom fully exposed for conducting contact with a similar battery cell, and a cold alkaline electrolyte within the compartments and 'held invsepa rated quantities by the cover also carryingmeans'tor making an electrical connection with the cell.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. GEORGE S. ENGLE. Witnesses CEAS. S. HYER, JAMES L. Norms, Jr.

copies of this patent. may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, 10..-0.

the said compartments, 35 

